This we Hold to be True...
The following are the core beliefs of Harbor Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
The Bible: God's Word for Us
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth and in its original text without error. Its timeless truth is practical and completely relevant to our daily lives.
(Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16)
(Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16)
The Trinity: God, Three in One
God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He exists as one God in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 14:10, 16; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8-10; James 2:19)
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 14:10, 16; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8-10; James 2:19)
The Father: God Has All Authority
God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, holy. It is in Him that we live, move and exist. God is good: He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.
(Exodus 3:14; 34:6-7; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6 John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4)
(Exodus 3:14; 34:6-7; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6 John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4)
The Son: God Became Man
Jesus Christ is completely human but, at the same time, completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God’s demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we could have life.
(Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16)
(Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16)
Holy Spirit: God Filled Man
His presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be pursued but must be exercised in an orderly way in the context of God’s mission to reach people.
(Genesis 1:2; Psalms 51:11; 139:7; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:1-11, 31; 13:1-13; 14:1, 26-33; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17)
(Genesis 1:2; Psalms 51:11; 139:7; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:1-11, 31; 13:1-13; 14:1, 26-33; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17)
People: God's Image Bearers
People are made in the image of God as either male or female, and are the supreme object of His creation. We were created to have relationship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, we cannot attain a right relationship with God through our own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
(Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11)
(Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11)
The Fall
When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.
(Genesis 3; Genesis 4:1-16; Genesis 5:3; Genesis 6:5, 11-12; Genesis 8:21; Genesis 11:1-9; Romans 3:9-20, 23; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:18–23; Romans 12:5-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45-49; Ephesians 2:1–3, 4:17–19; Colossians 1:21; 2:13; 1Timothy 2:13-14; Titus 3:3)
(Genesis 3; Genesis 4:1-16; Genesis 5:3; Genesis 6:5, 11-12; Genesis 8:21; Genesis 11:1-9; Romans 3:9-20, 23; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:18–23; Romans 12:5-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45-49; Ephesians 2:1–3, 4:17–19; Colossians 1:21; 2:13; 1Timothy 2:13-14; Titus 3:3)
Salvation: God's Only Way
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it on God’s terms. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:2; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1, 10:9-10)
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:2; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1, 10:9-10)
Baptism: Obedience & Identification
Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Once we have given our life to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, baptism is a way for us to publicly declare our new life in Christ and identify with His Church. It is a first step of obedience after trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord based on God’s commands and allows us to follow the example of Jesus, who submitted himself to baptism to “fulfill all righteousness.”
(Matthew 3:16-17; 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12)
(Matthew 3:16-17; 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12)
The Church: God's Hope for the World
Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, and the local church is the avenue by which this hope is shared. It’s through our love for one another and our diligence to fulfill His mission that we bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to our community and the world. The local church needs to model a loving community of devoted Christ followers.
(Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3)
(Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3)
Marriage: God's Plan for the Family
The biblical union of one biological man and one biological woman for life provides for intimate companionship, pure sexual expression, procreation, and reflects the relationship of Christ and the Church. Sexual activity outside of marriage is sin and contrary to the standard the Bible teaches.
(Genesis 2:23-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31-33; 1 Corinthians 6:13-20)
(Genesis 2:23-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31-33; 1 Corinthians 6:13-20)
Eternity: Forever is Real
We are created to exist forever. We will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
(John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15)
(John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15)